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United States Patent |
6,109,963
|
Follingstad
,   et al.
|
August 29, 2000
|
Repairable connector and method
Abstract
A repairable transmission line connector is provided where the center
conductor has a front removable portion, and a rear portion crimped to the
center conductor of the transmission cable. An outer sleeve mounted to a
first coaxial conductor of the cable includes a removable front portion,
and a rear portion crimped to the first coaxial conductor of the cable. An
insulator holds the front center conductor wherein the insulator is held
by the rear outer sleeve and the front outer sleeve. The front and rear
outer sleeves, and the front and rear center conductors form a connector
assembly. In a triaxial connector the connector assembly is surrounded by
an insulating sleeve disposed within front and rear connector bodies
connected to the cable. By disconnecting the front and rear connector
bodies (if present) and the front and rear outer sleeves, access to the
front center conductor is permitted for replacement of the front center
conductor. The front outer sleeve and the insulator can be replaced as
desired.
Inventors:
|
Follingstad; Michael Jay (Edina, MN);
Peters; Jeffrey Louis (Eagan, MN)
|
Assignee:
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ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (Minnetonka, MN)
|
Appl. No.:
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357025 |
Filed:
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July 20, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: |
439/578 |
Intern'l Class: |
H01R 009/05 |
Field of Search: |
439/578,675,579-585,879,746-748,608,610
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3673546 | Jun., 1972 | Green.
| |
4358174 | Nov., 1982 | Dreyer.
| |
4813887 | Mar., 1989 | Capp.
| |
5498175 | Mar., 1996 | Yeh et al. | 439/578.
|
5620339 | Apr., 1997 | Gray et al. | 439/578.
|
5993253 | Nov., 1999 | Sai | 439/578.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
0 284 320 A2 | Sep., 1988 | EP.
| |
0 459 663 A1 | Dec., 1991 | EP.
| |
0 577 277 A1 | Jan., 1994 | EP.
| |
Other References
Exhibit A ADC Telecommunications catalog page entitled "BNC Right Angle and
BNC Connectors," dated Nov. 1996.
Exhibit B Kings Electronics Co. Inc. catalog pages--front cover page, pp.
1, 36, 38, 41, 50, 51, and back cover page, dated 1991.
|
Primary Examiner: Luebke; Renee
Assistant Examiner: Ngandjui; Antoine
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merchant & Gould P.C.
Parent Case Text
This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 09/007,855, filed
Jan. 15, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,852 which application(s) are
incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A transmission line female connector repair kit mountable to a connector
portion mounted to a cable, the cable including a center conductor, and a
coaxially extending first conductor surrounding the center conductor, the
connector portion including a rear center conductor mounted to the center
conductor of the cable, and a rear outer sleeve mounted to the first
conductor of the cable, the rear outer sleeve including a threaded front
end, and a shoulder, the female connector repair kit comprising:
a front outer sleeve including a threaded rear end threadably mountable to
the threaded front end of the rear outer sleeve, the front outer sleeve
including an inner shoulder, the front outer sleeve further including a
front end defining a tubular portion;
an insulator received within the front outer sleeve and engageable with the
inner shoulder, the insulator engageable with the shoulder of the rear
outer sleeve; and
a front center conductor mounted to the insulator and including a rear end
slidably and detachably mountable to the rear center conductor, the front
center conductor including a front end defining a female center conductor
tip, wherein a female connector is formed when the front outer sleeve, the
insulator and the front center conductor are mounted to the connector
portion mounted to a cable.
2. The female connector repair kit of claim 1, wherein the insulator has a
ring shape, and further includes two identical halves split along a
diametral portion of the ring.
3. The female connector repair kit of claim 1, wherein the front outer
sleeve includes a non-symmetrical outer gripping surface.
4. The female connector repair kit of claim 3, wherein the non-symmetrical
outer gripping surface includes two opposed planar portions.
5. A transmission line male connector repair kit mountable to a connector
portion mounted to a cable, the cable including a center conductor, and a
coaxially extending first conductor surrounding the center conductor, the
connector portion including a rear center conductor mounted to the center
conductor of the cable, and a rear outer sleeve mounted to the first
conductor of the cable, the rear outer sleeve including a threaded front
end, the male connector repair kit comprising:
a front outer sleeve including a threaded rear end threadably mountable to
the threaded front end of the rear outer sleeve, the front outer sleeve
including an inner shoulder, the front outer sleeve further including a
front end defining a plurality of longitudinally projecting fingers;
an insulator received within the front outer sleeve and engageable with the
inner shoulder, the insulator engageable with the shoulder of the rear
outer sleeve; and
a front center conductor mounted to the insulator and including a rear end
slidably and detachably mountable to the rear center conductor, the front
center conductor including a front end defining a male center conductor
tip, wherein a male connector is formed when the front outer sleeve, the
insulator and the front center conductor are mounted to the connector
portion mounted to a cable.
6. The male connector repair kit of claim 5, wherein the insulator has a
ring shape, and further includes two identical halves split along a
diametral portion of the ring.
7. The male connector repair kit of claim 5, wherein the front outer sleeve
includes a non-symmetrical outer gripping surface.
8. The male connector repair kit of claim 7, wherein the non-symmetrical
outer gripping surface includes two opposed planar portions.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to transmission line connectors for triaxial
and coaxial cables.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Both coaxial and triaxial transmission cables include a center conductor
(solid or stranded) surrounded by one layer (in the case of coax) or two
layers (in the case of triax) of braided shielding conductor. Dielectric
layers are between the conductors, and an outer protective jacket
surrounds the inner layers. Connectors link the various conductors of the
cables to transmission equipment or other cables. The cable connectors can
be disconnected and reconnected as desired. The connectors usually include
a small projecting male or female center conductor made of copper or other
conductive material for connecting to the center conductor of the
transmission equipment or other cables.
Triaxial connectors can be used for connecting the cables to television
broadcasting and video equipment, such as for connecting the camera head
to the camera control-unit. Other uses of the cables and connectors
include providing DC power to the camera, intercom to operator
connections, teleprompter feeds, and robotic camera functions.
The center conductor portion of the connector is fairly fragile and prone
to damage. The center conductor portion can become damaged if the
connector is misaligned during a connection to transmission equipment. A
problem arises if the center conductor portion becomes damaged. In the
past, the connector was permanently attached to the cable, such as via
crimping. The cable had to be recut and a new connector installed when the
center conductor of the connector was damaged. Recutting and installing a
new connector in the field is a time consuming task. There is a need for
connectors and methods which allow faster repair when the center conductor
portion or other front portion of the connector becomes damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a repairable connector including a rear
center conductor connectable at a rear end to a center conductor of a
cable. A front end of the rear center conductor defines a center conductor
tip. Preferably, the center conductor tip defines a male tip. A rear outer
sleeve of the connector is connectable to a first coaxial conductor of the
cable at a rear end of the rear outer sleeve. The rear outer sleeve also
includes a front end. A front outer sleeve of the connector includes a
rear end for releasably mounting to the rear outer sleeve. Threads are one
preferred structure for permitting releasable mounting. An insulator is
held by the front and rear outer sleeves. A front center conductor of the
connector includes a rear end mounted to the center conductor tip of the
rear center conductor. The front center conductor is further held by the
insulator. A front end of the front center conductor defines a connecting
portion for use in connecting to the center conductor of the camera or
other transmission equipment or another cable. Also, the front end of the
front outer sleeve defines a connecting portion for use in connecting to
coaxial conductor of the camera or other transmission equipment, or
another cable.
The front outer sleeve is removable from the rear outer sleeve so as to
replace the front outer sleeve, or to access the insulator and the front
center conductor, in order to replace the front center conductor or the
insulator or both, as desired.
The insulator is preferably ring-shaped and is preferably comprised of
split halves which can be assembled around the front center conductor. The
front center conductor at the front end can either be a male conductor
portion or a female conductor portion. Similarly, the front end of the
front outer sleeve has a corresponding male or female sleeve portion.
A connector body including an insulating sleeve may house the front and
rear center conductors, the insulator, and the front and rear outer
sleeves as desired, such as in the case of a triaxial connector.
Preferably, the connector body includes front and rear portions threadably
mounted to each other, and where the rear portion is connectable to a
second coaxial conductor of the cable.
The present invention also relates to a connector repair kit including a
front outer sleeve including a threaded end, an insulator received within
the front outer sleeve, and a front center conductor held by the
insulator. The front outer sleeve is threadably mountable to a rear outer
sleeve mounted to a coaxial conductor of the cable. The center conductor
is slidably mounted to a rear center conductor mounted to a center
conductor of the cable.
The present invention also relates to a center conductor for use as a
replacement connector part where the center conductor has a longitudinal
axis, first and second ends, and a central region. The central region
defines a reduced diameter portion and two opposed radial shoulders. The
first end defines a female center conductor tip. The second end forms the
center conductor tip of the connector and can either be a female center
conductor tip or a male center conductor tip.
The present invention also relates to a method of assembly of a
transmission line connector including the step of providing a cable and a
rear portion of a connector mounted to the cable wherein the rear portion
of the connector includes a rear center conductor and a rear outer sleeve.
The method further comprises sliding a front center conductor onto the
rear center conductor, and mounting a front outer sleeve to the rear outer
sleeve wherein an insulator surrounds the front center conductor and is
trapped between a shoulder of the front outer sleeve, and a shoulder of
the rear outer sleeve.
The method also preferably includes repairing the connector by removing the
front outer sleeve, and removing the front center conductor, and sliding a
second front center conductor onto the rear center conductor. The method
also comprises mounting the front outer sleeve or a new front outer sleeve
to the rear outer sleeve wherein an insulator, new or original, associated
with the second front center conductor is trapped between the shoulders of
the front and rear outer sleeves, respectively.
The method also preferably includes crimping the rear center conductor to
the center conductor of the cable, and crimping the rear outer sleeve to
the shielding conductor of the cable.
Preferably, the method includes providing a connector body in a triaxial
connector including an insulating sleeve housing the front and rear center
conductors, the insulator, and the front and rear outer sleeves.
Preferably, the connector body includes front and rear portions threadably
mounted to each other, and where the rear portion is connectable to a
second shielding conductor of the cable. The method further preferably
includes the step of removing the front portion of the connector body from
the rear portion to access the front and rear outer sleeves for repair of
the connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a triaxial male connector mounted to a
cable according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the connector and cable of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of the connector and cable of FIG. 1
along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the inner connector assembly of
the connector of FIG. 1 and the cable;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the front outer sleeve of the connector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the front center conductor of the connector of FIG.
1;
FIG. 7 is a side view of one of the insulating ring halves of the connector
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is an end view of the insulating ring half of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the rear outer sleeve of the connector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a side view of the rear center conductor of the connector of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a triaxial female connector mounted to a
cable according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a side view of the connector and cable of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional top view of the inner connector assembly and
cable of FIG. 11 along lines 13--13 of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the inner connector assembly of
the connector of FIG. 11 and the cable;
FIG. 15 is a top view of the front outer sleeve of the connector of FIG.
11; and
FIG. 16 is a top view of the front center conductor of the connector of
FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A first preferred embodiment of a triaxial camera connector 20 is shown in
FIGS. 1-10. Connector 20 is a male connector for connecting to a female
triaxial connector of a triaxial camera or other transmission equipment or
cable. A second preferred embodiment of a triaxial camera connector 200 is
shown in FIGS. 11-16 and includes a female connector for connecting to a
male triaxial connector of a triaxial camera or other transmission
equipment or cable.
Referring again to FIGS. 1-10, connector 20 mounts to a transmission cable
22 and includes a male outer connector body 23 including a front connector
body 24 releasably mounted to a rear connector body 26 which is mounted to
cable 22. Inner threads 28 of front connector body 24 threadably engage
outer threads 30 of rear connector body 26 to enable convenient assembly
and disassembly.
An inner insulating sleeve 32 insulates front and rear connector bodies 24,
26 from a male inner connector assembly 34. Front and rear connector
bodies 24, 26 and sleeve 32 are of conventional construction or other
constructions as desired to house inner connector assembly 34. Example
material for connector bodies 24, 26 is brass, and example material for
sleeve 32 is Teflon.TM. material. Connector body 23 preferably includes
releasable latching structure 25 for selectively latching connector 20 to
reciprocal structure. An example reciprocal structure is connector body
223 of connector 200 shown in FIGS. 11-13. Connector body 23 also provides
a ground pathway for cable 22.
Inner connector assembly 34 includes two conductor transmission pathways
for connector 20. Inner connector assembly 34 conveniently assembles and
disassembles to allow replacement of components of inner connector
assembly 34, as will be described below.
Cable 22 includes a center conductor 40 defining a first transmission path
surrounded by a first insulating layer 42. A first concentric conductor 44
provides a second transmission path through the cable. A further
insulating layer 46 surrounds the first concentric conductor 44. A second
concentric conductor 48 provides a third transmission path through the
cable, such as ground. As shown in FIG. 3, an end of second concentric
conductor 48 is clamped to rear connector body 24. An outer jacket 50
protects the inner components of cable 22.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-10, inner connector assembly 34 of connector
includes a rear center conductor 56, a rear outer sleeve 66 with a
crimping sleeve 80, a front center conductor 84, an insulator 100, and a
front outer sleeve 122. Front and rear center conductors 84, 56 are made
of electrically conductive material and assemble to form the center
conductor transmission pathway of inner connector assembly 34. Front and
rear outer sleeves are made of electrically conductive material and
assemble to form a second transmission pathway of inner connector assembly
34. The center conductor pathway and the second transmission pathway of
the outer sleeves are insulated from one another by insulator 100.
Rear center conductor 56 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 includes a male end or
tip 58, and a female end 60 crimped to center conductor 40 of cable 22
where an end 41 of center conductor 40 projects into a center recess 62 of
rear center conductor 56. One example material for rear center conductor
56 is brass alloy C360. If desired, rear center conductor 56 can have a
female tip instead of male tip 58.
Rear outer sleeve 66 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9 is also crimped to cable 22
during use. A central passage 68 of rear outer sleeve 66 extends from one
end 69 of rear outer sleeve 66 to the opposite end 71. Projecting fingers
70, including an undulating outer surface 70a and a crimping sleeve 80
permit crimping of rear outer sleeve 66 to an end first concentric
conductor 44 as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows crimping sleeve 80 prior to
crimping. Rear outer sleeve 66 can be made of brass alloy C360, and
crimping sleeve 80 can be made of annealed brass alloy C360, for example.
Opposite end 71 of rear outer sleeve 66 includes outer threads 72
projecting toward a front end of connector 20. Rear outer sleeve 66 also
includes opposed flat portions 74 on an outer surface for use in holding
rear outer sleeve 66 by hand or with a tool (wrench, for example) during
assembly or disassembly. Alternatively, rear outer sleeve can include a
knurled gripping surface to facilitate assembly and disassembly. An end
shoulder 76 projects toward the front end of connector 20.
Front center conductor 84 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 includes a female end
or tip 86 with a center recess 88 for slidably mounting to male end 58 of
rear center conductor 56. FIG. 6 shows fingers 89 in an inwardly crimped
condition prior to being inserted over male end 58. A male end would be
needed if rear center conductor 56 included a female end. Front center
conductor 84 further includes an opposite male end or tip 90 which forms
the connection end of connector 20. Front center conductor 84 includes a
reduced diameter central portion 92 defining front and rear radial
shoulders 94, 96. One example material for front center conductor 84 is
heat treated beryllium copper, specifically ASTM B194 UNS C172 alloy, heat
treated to a finish temper of TH02, and Rockwell hardness on a C-scale of
38-44.
Insulator 100 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8 holds front center conductor 84.
A center portion of insulator 100 resides in reduced diameter central
portion 92 of front center conductor 84. Insulator 100 is further trapped
between front and rear radial shoulders 94, 96. Preferably, insulator 100
defines a ring shape and is formed by identical halves 102, 103. A
description of half 102 applies to half 103. Half 102 includes a
projecting post 104 and a recess 106 along diametral planar portion 108.
Post 104 resides in recess 106 of half 103, and recess 106 receives post
104 of half 103. Half 102 defines a central passage 110 for receipt of
reduced diameter central portion 92 of front center conductor 84.
Insulator 100 includes an outer rim 112 including a front rim portion 114
and a rear rim portion 116. Insulator 100 of the preferred embodiment
further includes various angled surfaces 118 for reducing reflection of
transmission signals during use. Example materials for insulator 100
include UlteM.TM. material by General Electric or Teflon.TM. material.
Other shapes for insulator 100 including tubular, are possible.
Front outer sleeve 122 shown in FIGS. 3-5 defines a central passage 124
including inner threads 126 at one end 127, and a plurality of
longitudinally projecting fingers 130 at an opposite end 129. Fingers 130
define a male connector sleeve such as of the type in a conventionally
shaped connector end for connecting to a reciprocal female connector.
Inner threads 126 threadably mount to outer threads 72 of rear outer
sleeve 66. Two flat portions 128 on opposite sides of an outer surface of
front outer sleeve 122 permit grasping by hand or a tool during assembly
and disassembly of front and rear outer sleeves 122, 66. Alternatively, a
knurled griping surface can be provided. An inner shoulder 132 cooperates
with front shoulder 76 of rear outer sleeve 66 to trap outer rim 112 of
insulator 100 where front rim portion 114 is adjacent to inner shoulder
132 and rear rim portion is adjacent to front shoulder 76. An example
material for front outer sleeve 122 is brass alloy C360.
Once assembled, connector 20 is conveniently repaired if one or both of
front center conductor 84 or front outer sleeve 122 becomes damaged. By
removing front connector body 24 from rear connector body 26 and
unscrewing front outer sleeve 122 from rear outer sleeve 66, front outer
sleeve 122 can be replaced with a new part. Also, by unscrewing front
outer sleeve 122, access to front center conductor 84 is possible so as to
remove front center conductor 84 and replace it with a new front center
conductor. Insulator 100 can be reused, or a new insulator can be added at
the same time. By sliding female end 86 of the new front center conductor
84 over rear center conductor 56, connector 20 with a damaged center
conductor can be repaired without having to recut cable 22 and reattach a
new connector.
Other releasable mounting structures between front and rear outer sleeves
122, 66 besides threads are possible to allow replacement of front outer
sleeve 122 or to allow replacement of front center conductor 84 and
insulator 100, such as a snap arrangement, a bayonet and slot arrangement
or a longitudinally sliding slip fit arrangement. Releasable mounting
structure allows for reuse of the rear portions of the connector 20 (rear
center conductor 56 and rear outer sleeve 66) which are permanently
crimped to the cable, in the event the front portions of the connector
become damaged. Thus, a field repairable connector is provided which
allows faster repair of the connector having a damaged front end, since
the cable recutting and recrimping operations are avoided.
Referring now to FIGS. 11-16, the female triaxial camera connector 200 is
shown including a female outer connector body 223 and a female inner
connector assembly 234 including a female front center conductor 284. Rear
center conductor 56, rear outer sleeve 66, crimping sleeve 80, and
insulator 100 are constructed as in male inner connector assembly 34.
Front center conductor 284 includes a similar female end 86 with a center
recess 88 for mounting to rear center conductor 56. Instead of a male end
90, front center conductor 284 includes a female end or tip 290. Front
center conductor 284 includes the reduced diameter center portion 92 and
front and rear shoulders 94, 96. Front center conductor 284 is held in
place in a similar manner by insulator 100 trapped between a front outer
sleeve 322 and rear outer sleeve 66. Instead of projecting fingers 130,
front outer sleeve 322 includes a front cylindrical or tubular portion 330
such as of the type in a conventionally shaped end of a female connector
sleeve. Outer connector body 223 of connector 200 includes a front
connector body 24a and an inner insulating sleeve 30a constructed to allow
connector 200 to connect to a reciprocal male triaxial connector. Front
connector body 24a and sleeve 32a are of conventional construction or
other constructions as desired to house inner connector assembly 234. In
the illustrated embodiment, rear connector body 26 is the same as in
connector 20.
Access to repair connector 200 is the same as connector 20 with respect to
removing front connector body 24a, and then unscrewing front outer sleeve
322 from rear outer sleeve 66 to replace front center conductor 284,
and/or front outer sleeve 322 and/or insulator 100. Like connector 20,
other releasable mounting structures between front outer sleeve 322 and
rear outer sleeve 66 are possible.
The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-16 are for repairable connectors for
triaxial cables including various selectively detachable structures to
allow repair of a damaged front end of the connector. In the case of
coaxial cables, connectors also link the center conductor of the cable and
the ground shield of the cable to transmission equipment on other coaxial
cables. Coaxial repairable connectors in accordance with the invention
include front end rear center conductors, where the rear center conductor
is mounted to the center conductor of the cable (i.e., via crimping), and
the front center conductor is selectively mountable to the rear center
conductor such as in the embodiments noted above. The coaxial connector
also includes front and rear outer sleeves where the rear outer sleeve is
mounted to the ground shield (i.e., via crimping), and the front outer
sleeve is selectively mountable to the rear outer sleeve, such as in the
embodiments noted above, or as in other selective mounting arrangements.
An insulator holds the front center conductor, and the insulator is held
by the front and rear outer sleeves, such as in the embodiments noted
above. The coaxial connector may include connecting structure on the outer
sleeve(s) so as to permit connection of the connector to reciprocal
connectors of the transmission equipment or other cables, such as threads
or bayonets and slots.
Having described the present invention in a preferred embodiment,
modifications and equivalents may occur to one skilled in the art. It is
intended that such modifications and equivalents shall be included within
the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.
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